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The Critical Role of Interactive Features in the Language and Speech Developmental Trajectories of Children

Audette Sylvestre^1,2, Mélissa Di Sante^1,2,3, Catherine Julien^4,5

¹Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research : JSLHR

|December 23, 2025

Abstract

Purpose:

This study examines the critical role of interactive and linguistic features of the family environment in the language and speech developmental trajectories of children with a history of neglect. The proposed hypothesis is that the quality of interactive features will be the primary determinant of whether children follow a normative (control-like) or low developmental trajectory.

Method:

Data were collected from the Early Longitudinal Language and Neglect study conducted in Quebec (Canada), involving 41 children who had experienced neglect, living in either biological or foster families. Children's language and speech development was assessed through measures of expressive and receptive vocabulary, mean length of utterance, and percentage of words correct at six time points between 36 and 66 months of age. The child's language and speech development was classified into one of two categories: normative or low. Parent-child interactive and linguistic features were analyzed using 15-min video recordings of semistructured play sessions conducted at home.

Results:

Low levels of parental interactive features-such as sensitivity, reactivity, and reciprocity-were positively associated with lower language and speech trajectories in children. Among linguistic features, only the parental mean length of utterance showed a significant link to low trajectories. These patterns were observed consistently in both biological and foster families.

Conclusions:

The findings demonstrate that interactive features play a critical role in shaping the language and speech trajectories of children experiencing neglect, even more so than linguistic features. This study highlights the importance of high-quality interactions with parents in mitigating the negative effects of neglect on language and speech development. A targeted and adaptive approach, emphasizing parental strengths, has the potential to significantly improve developmental outcomes for children growing up in contexts of adversity.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.30888404.

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